Nothing New Under the Sun

Cheryl Gowin and Dennis Gowin.  Call us at our counseling practice with your feedback, comments, issues, or questions at 434-808-2637.

Have you ever just chuckled when hearing an idea presented as a brand new concept when it is really an age-old idea?  This week several TV programs featured a segment on the topic of meditation as the upcoming trend for 2018.  One segment reported that there are 1,300 smart phone apps available to help you meditate.  Another segment discussed mediation centers, where one can pay to go find a quiet place to meditate, as a growth industry in 2018.

Of course, in these segments experts discussed the following benefits to meditation.

Meditation increased mindfulness.  Mindfulness is the ability to see and be aware of what is going on in your head without getting carried away by your thoughts.  For example, when you are ambushed by a big blast of anger, mindfulness might help you see it coming before you are controlled by your anger.  Mindfulness helps you see your inner clang and clatter clearly, so that it does not own you.  Mindfulness, growing from within, helps us to connect to the world and what is happening around us.

Meditation resets your stress and anxiety levels.  It stops theses stresses and anxieties from building up in the background.  Stress or anxiety, which is not dealt with, will grow and intensify with ever increasing negative effects on your life.

Meditation will help you grasp your best ideas.

Meditating for 15 just minutes in the morning sets the mood for the rest of the day.  Starting the day by checking texts, voicemails, and emails starts the day with stress.  Meditation gives you time to organize your thoughts, and set your priorities before focusing on the demands of the day.

Meditation is a way to completely disconnect and reset from the struggles of your day.  It is telling your brain that it is time to let go, so you can rest and be better prepared for whatever tomorrow will bring.  Meditation is also very helpful in the evening, especially for people whose minds are constantly running.

So now, let’s look what my favorite source, the basic instruction before leaving earth book (commonly called the Bible), says about meditation.

The Bible is full of examples of people meditating.  Isaac was in the field at evening meditating when he first saw his soon to be wife Rebekah.  David and Asaph both talk about meditating.  Paul tells Timothy to meditate.  Even Jesus would find a quiet place to meditate.  The Bible also provides many benefits to meditation.  Here is a list of just some of the benefits we are told are available through meditation.

• Meditation provides inner resources on which to draw – Psalms 77:10-12

• Meditating helps us overcome sin, such as anger – Psalm 119:11

• Meditation will reduces our stress – Philippians 4:7

• Meditation allows us to store up good things in our heart – Luke 6:45

• Meditation provides a quiet, perfect peace and steadfast mind – Isaiah 26:3

• Meditation provides direction for daily life – Proverbs 6:21-22

• Meditation at night allows our mind and heart to be still – Psalms 4:4

• Meditating and incorporating Biblical concepts will help us succeed – Psalm 1:1-3, Joshua 1:8

What does this show?  That from the beginning of time to today, the advice from experts is including a time for meditation in your day is helpful!  Next week we will talk about some ideas on how to meditate.  And a hint, you will not have to pay to join a meditation center.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.  Psalms 19:14

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Call us with your feedback, comments, issues, or questions; our phone number is 434-808-2637.